Mailbox Background

Many original cluster box unit (CBU) mailboxes still exist within our Waterhouse South neighborhood.  They were installed when our neighborhood was built out in the late 1980s and early 1990s, and are identified by their grey color and the United States Postal Service (USPS) stickers on their sides.

Homeowners are responsible for their USPS-assigned CBU and individual mailbox.  Originally, USPS was responsible for them, but cost-cutting has seen that responsibility transferred to homeowners.  USPS may infer an HOA is responsible, but that’s errant guidance given many neighborhoods are not associated with an HOA.  Therefore, homeowners are responsible for the care, and in the event of compromise, repair or replacement of their assigned CBU and/or individual mailbox.  USPS does not allow homeowners to have their own stand-alone mailbox in neighborhoods like Waterhouse South.

Mailbox Precaution

Homeowners are encouraged to…

• • Check their mailbox daily after mail delivery.

  • Wait until morning to deposit mail so that no mail is left overnight in the mailbox.

  • Sign-up for free Informed Delivery® at www.usps.com to digitally preview your incoming mail.

  • Place a Hold Mail at www.usps.com or arrange a neighbor to collect your mail if you plan to be away from home for an extended period.

Mailbox Break-in and Accident Reporting

Unfortunately, CBU and mailbox break-ins and/or vehicle accidents to the CBU occur.  When they do, please report them to...

• • City of Beaverton Police (non-emergency number, 503-629-0111).

  • U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS, 1-877-876-2455) for break-ins and theft.

  • Local USPS (503-614-9516) for accidents and, if guided by USPIS, for break-ins and theft as well.

  • Waterhouse South Homeowners’ Association (WSHA, board@waterhousesouth.com), so we can inform WSHA homeowners to make them aware.

If a break-in or accident compromises an entire CBU or an individual mailbox door and/or lock, such that it is no longer secure for mail delivery, USPS will stop delivering mail to that CBU or individual mailbox.  For such incidents, WSHA homeowners will be required to pick up their mail from the USPS Beaverton Oregon Sorting & Delivery Center (S&DC, formerly Evergreen Detached Carrier Unit (DCU)) until repair or replacement is completed.  While the USPS Beaverton OR S&DC is in Hillsboro off NE Evergreen Pkwy, USPS has named the facility "Beaverton" and formally states the address for it is in Portland.

USPS Beaverton OR S&DC

3685 NE Aloclek Dr

Portland, OR 97291

503-614-9516

Individual Mailbox Repair

If an individual mailbox door is bent, but not compromised for the secure delivery of mail, it can be bent back into shape.  Individual mailbox lock replacements can be found at Home Depot.  Be sure to bring the original lock to help identify a replacement match.  The original lock can be released from the inside of the individual mailbox door by pulling the C-clamp holding it in.

CBU Mailbox Replacement

If a break-in or accident compromises an entire CBU assigned to WSHA homeowners, such that it is no longer secure for mail delivery, then it must be replaced with a Florence Corporation 8 Tenant Door CBU Pedestal Mailbox H1570-8AF or 16 Tenant Door CBU Pedestal Mailbox H1570-16AF (a 12 Tenant Door model is not available) in black from National Mailboxes for look-and-feel consistency within our neighborhood.  These CBUs (see below photos) meet current, USPS security standards and feature two parcel lockers, which are now required by USPS.  Black was chosen to better hide aging due to our wet winters and potential graffiti clean-up.